Chapter 100: His influence
The faint hum of mana capsules filled the air as morning light filtered through the dusty blinds of the rundown gaming center. Thin rays cut across the half-lit room, exposing walls laced with old flyers and peeling paint. In the back row, a pod hissed open, releasing a gush of condensed mist. A pair of wide, bloodshot eyes snapped open from within.
Angel Michael shot up like a man jolted from a nightmare.
His chest heaved, sweat dampening his plain white shirt. He blinked rapidly, his breathing shallow, trying to anchor himself back in reality. The sharp, sterile scent of mana fluid still clung to his skin, and the warmth of the virtual realm clashed violently with the cold bite of real-world air.
"Brother Isiaka.?" he whispered hoarsely, still half-lost in the world he'd just left. "What happened to Brother Isiaka?
A second later, his comms exploded.
Beep! Buzz! Buzz! Ding!
His holowatch lit up like a festival lamp. Group chats. Emergency news alerts. Holographic bulletins and game forums. His name was being tagged repeatedly alongside just one other—Man like Malik.
Michael's fingers trembled as he swiped through the feed. He froze.
> "Server anomaly confirmed. Player Man Malik triggers cross-dimensional warp. God's Realm enters instability." "Unknown player overrides zone rules! Colored Empire issues global search." "Green Leaf Town declared Holy Ground. All hail the First Martial Expert!"
His throat dried. His lips parted, but no words came.
"...What has he done? What miraculous encounter..."
Michael stared at the hologram, his heart pounding like a war drum. Not from fear, but awe. The kind of awe that reached deep into your bones and whispered: the world just changed, and you weren't ready for it.
"The whole world is looking for him.. I've to reach him.. I've to get him."
He grabbed his shoes, not even bothering with socks, and stormed out of the gaming center like a madman on fire.
"Michael." Annabel called but Michael didn't even hear.
He ran. Not jogged. Not sprinted.
He ran like something was chasing him.
The neighborhood blurred around him—managers opening shops, students dragging bags, street hawkers shouting—but Michael barely saw any of it. His mind kept flashing back to Malik. To that insane fight. The Feral King. The sacrifice.
And then—the void.
He didn't know what happened next. No one did.
---
Michael nearly skidded off his feet as he turned a corner and slammed into a taller boy with shoulder-length dreads.
"Hey!" Michael snapped, grabbing the guy's arm before they both fell.
The boy blinked. "Bro? Michael?"
Michael narrowed his eyes. Recognition hit. "Trust...?"
Trust Emeka exhaled, his face pale and drenched with sweat. He wore a mismatched tracksuit and carried a cheap tablet clutched tightly in his left hand. His eyes looked haunted.
"You too, abi?" Michael asked breathlessly.
Trust nodded slowly. "*Everywhere dey mad. Forums blowing up. My sis just call me from Port Harcourt. Even she don hear the name—Man like Malik*."
Michael grit his teeth. "We need to go to his apartment. Now."
---
They arrived at the third-floor apartment of Block D, only to find a crowd already gathered. Phones out. Voices whispering. Someone had even spray-painted a rough tribute on the wall beside the door: Ancestor of Green Leaf.
The door was shut, but eyes were watching. Windows pried open. A few young girls peeked in. Someone nearby had started recording on holo-stream.
"Look," Trust said, nudging his head toward a group of mean-looking boys in green varsity jackets. They were huddled near the staircase, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"*That's them, I swear. Them dey follow Malik*."
One of the boys pushed off the wall and approached.
"Hey. You dey roll with that guy, right? The Ancestor. The one that break the game."
Michael said nothing. He stared at him, cold.
"Won't you reply?"
"Where's he? Where's the Ancestor? He should know more about the expansion.. He should come and fill us in."
"Yes that's truth. He triggered it.. He should know what it entails."
"We are also looking for him as you can see." Trust replied stepped forward
The boy's smirk deepened. "*Una dey cause problem. Una dey bring government attention. Military sef dey para. Maybe if una disappear—*"
Michael's fist twitched. Tensions were brewing as about 20 boys surrounded the two.
But before chaos could erupt—
Three black SUVs screeched to a stop at the front of the compound.
All heads turned.
Doors clicked open in perfect synchrony. From each vehicle stepped a man in a pressed suit, their movements crisp and calculated. Their suits bore the faint shimmer of mana-infused weave—protection-grade.
They didn't speak immediately.
Instead, the one in front walked straight up to Michael and Trust. The crowd parted like water.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a pitch-black card. A holographic crest shimmered on the surface—a coiling dragon inked in seven colors, devouring a full moon.
He handed the card to Michael.
"Michael Bako. Trust Emeka."
Michael's hands trembled slightly.
"As of this morning, by decree of the Colored Empire, you are under our full protection."
The man's voice was smooth. Controlled.
"Any act of aggression against you will be considered a violation of our sanctuary laws. Any enemy of yours is now an enemy of the Colored."
He turned, eyeing the thugs with cold disdain. They flinched.
Michael opened his mouth. "Why... why us?"
The agent smiled faintly.
"You should take a guess."
There's nothing to guess, they all know the reason why they received such attention.
"Where's he? I can't find him anywhere?"
"There's no need to worry.. Your friend is safe for now..Just make sure you come to the Colored Empire as soon as possible.. We will do everything to nurture you guys."
After saying those words, the three men walked back to their vehicles.
Michael stared down at the card in his palm. His heart beat thunderously.
"What the hell did you do, Brother Isiaka ..." he whispered.
---
Lagos, Nigeria
Kenny bounced a biscuit in her mouth as they walked along the dusty path to their school. Taiwo adjusted her glasses, glancing at her tablet.
"God's Realm is crashing again," she muttered.
"Hm?" Kenny asked, munching.
"Server glitch. Same name popping up everywhere. Man like Malik."
Kenny froze. She remembered that name. How could she forget the weirdo who punched a Boss monster into submission while shouting his philosophy on footwork?
"Boss.. I knew Boss is truly awesome."
A low hum interrupted their thoughts.
A sleek mana-hover car descended beside them, its polished body gleaming even in the morning haze. The window rolled down.
A woman in a purple suit leaned out. Her smile was kind.
"Taiwo and Kenny Osaze?"
The girls nodded warily.
"On behalf of the Colored Empire, I bring you this."
She held out two shimmering invitation cards, glistening with embedded spirit runes.
"You have been invited to join the Colored Empire. Are you willing to accept this invitation? "
Kenny dropped her biscuit while Taiwo swallowed hard.
"If I may ask why?"
"I don't really know.. It's the Decision of Mr. President but I think it has something to do with your acquaintance with the Ancestor."
The two twins turned to each other.."It's him.. It's definitely him.. He has lead them to a height they could never reach. The colored empire.. One of the top empire in The Western Region.
"We are willing."
___
"Grandpa .. You haven't answer me. What happened to my friend?" Carita demanded from Old Man White who laughed out in a carefree manner.
"It's a confidential issue. How am I supposed to tell you. But you should know he's safe."
"To hell with Confidential issue.." Carita snorted and slumped down on the couch.
"You're here grumbling over a man instead of you to be celebrating that your Brother is among the top 5 in the leaderboard." Old Man White replied..
"That bastard White Emperor.. Never have I thought he's actually a friend of Malik.." Carita gritted her teeth.
"Oh I'm really the lucky one. My son is a friend to the Ancestor and my daughter is also in love with the Ancestor.. I truly luck out.. Haha.."
"Grandpa." Carita screams with all her face turning red.
"Haha.. It's showing.."
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---
A silhouette floated in the air , eyes closed, body suspended in a swirling vortex of broken data, shattered codes, and wild, unbound mana.
He felt like his soul had been peeled from his bones, thrown into the center of a collapsing star.
His body kept rotating as his consciousness kept fluctuating.
"Where am I? I can't move an inch."
"I can't step forward. Am I dead?"
"Am I alive?"
"I don't feel anything.. I can't sense anything."
[ERROR: Unknown Relic Used] [System Glitch: Player Location Undefined] [Server Transfer Detected – God's Realm Variant Alpha Test Shard #3]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed around him.
> "You have violated the balance of realms."
A pillar of light stabbed into the darkness.
[Error! Error]
[You've discovered a New Version of God's Realm Online.]
[Your Server isn't suitable for this version.]
[Two choices are laid out for you.]
[Press the Red Button and you shall be Ejected from God's Realm Online. Your Soul will be barred forever and you won't be able to create any other account or have access to God's Realm again.]
[Press the Blue Button to restart your journey back from Level 0.]
Malik eyes snapped open as he stared at the system prompt in front of him.
"Is this system kidding me or what? After everything I've gone through.. I'll still start from Level 0."
The frown on Malik's face intensified as his hand wandered to the red button.
The End